Electric lighter for oxyacetylene-torches.



A. M. LOFSTROM.

ELECTRIC LIGHTER FOR OXYACETYLENE TORCHES.

- APPLICATION FILED APR. n. 1918.

1,281,036. Patented Oct. s, 1918.

WITNESSES IIVVENTOR M W. 4/ZZ0fs/ro 7 Arm/119s ARTHUR M. LOFSTROM, 0F CAMBRIDGE, MINNESOTA.

ELECTRIC LIGHTER FOR OXYACE'IYLENE-TORCHES.

Application filed April 17, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. Lors'rnom, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cambridge, in the county of Isanti and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and Improved Electric Lighter for Oxyacetylene-Torches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a lighting device especially adapted for igniting the flame of an oxy-acetylene torch by the use of electricity.

The invention has for its general object to provide an electric igniter which is of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction, reliable and eflicient in use, and of durable and substantial design.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of an igniter having spaced terminals connected in circuit with a source of current and a coil, and so related that ihe tip of the torch is adapted to bridge the terminals or electrodes to complete the circuit, and then the orifice end of the torch is separated from one of the electrodes while contact is maintained with the other, so that a jump spark will cause the gas to be ignited, thus doing away with the necessity of matches, which is time-consuming and otherwise objectionable.

With such and other objects in view, the invention comprises various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be set forth with particularity in the following description and claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention and wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device and a torch applied thereto for light- 1n Tig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the device; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit.

Referring to the drawing, 1 and 2 designate the electrodes or spark points which are made of suitable metal and are fastened to a spool 3 of porcelain or other insulation by means of bolts 4 which pass through openings in the spool and screw into the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

Serial No. 229,115.

sparking points, said bolts also serving to hold the spool attached to the base plate 5. Surrounding the spool is a coil 6 which has one terminal 7 grounded on one of the bolts 4 and the other terminal 8 is connected with a supply wire 9. The other bolt 4: is connected with a supply wire 10. Surrounding the spool is a protecting ring 11 which is clamped between the base 5 and an annular shoulder 12.

The lighter is preferably fastened to a permanent support conveniently located with respect to the work-bench of the welder and all that is necessary for the welder to do to ignite the gas is to open the valve of the torch and then bring the tip of the torch into engagement with the sparking points 1 and 2, as shown in Fig. 3, when current will flow from the source 13 through the wire 10, sparking point 2, tip it of the torch T, sparking point 1, winding 6 and wire 9. The torch is now moved so as to bring the gas end of the tip out of engagement with the electrode 1, so that a spark will jump fromthe same to the tip and ignite the gas issuing from the latter. There is a flow of current only for a fraction of a minute, so that the current consumption is practically negligible.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device of the class described comprising a base plate, an insulation spool, a winding on the spool, bolts passing through the base plate and spool and having extremities extending beyond the outer face of the latter, sparking points screwed on the bolts and held thereon, and means for connecting the spool and sparking points in an electric circuit.

2. A device of the class described comprising a base plate of insulation, an insulation spool, bolts passing through the base plate and spool, sparking points secured to 5 the spool by the bolts, a winding on the spool andconnected With one of the bolts, means for connecting the other bolt and Winding with a source of current, and a protecting ring surrounding the Winding on the spool, said spool having a shoulder 10 whereby the ring is clamped between the shoulder and base plate.

ARTHUR M. LOFSTROM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

